Two-wheeled gyro-controlled toy motorcycle



7 April 8, 1958 M. J. PAGANO TWO-WHEELED GYRO-CONTROLLED TOY MOTORCYCLE Filed Aug. 13, 1956 INVENTOR. MARI/m0 J. man/v0 United States Patent TWO-WHEELED GYRO-CON TROLLED TOY MOTORCYCLE 2 Claims. (Cl. 46-209) This invention relates to toy motorcycles and the like, and particularly to a gyro-controlled two wheeled toy motorcycle.

The main object of my invention is to provide a twowheeled toy motorcycle with gyro control means to maintain the cycle upright while in operation without the use of outrigger wheels or projections.

Another object of my invention is to provide a toy motorcycle with an operative steering means allowing the toy to be directed in any direction it is desired to have it run.

A further object of my invention is to have such a toy motorcycle provided with a hollow front wheel forming a balanced housing for an independently rotatable gyro wheel acting as a flywheel Within the front wheel.

A practical object of this invention is to make the body or frame of the toy motorcycle and the wheels of plastic material, the front fork of light metal or alloy and the gyro rotor or flywheel of heavy metal, as desired.

It is, of course, an object of the invention to produce an easily operated practical toy of the character indicated which may be manufactured readily and sold at a reasonable figure in order to encourage wide distribution on the toy market.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in greater detail as the specification proceeds.

In order to facilitate ready comprehension of this invention for a proper appreciation of the salient features thereof, the invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a gyro-controlled toy motorcycle made according to my invention and embodying the same in a practical form;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section of the motorcycle toy as taken on line 2--2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section of the motorcycle fork and handle bar attachment disclosing construction detail;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the front wheel and fork with a cord on the shaft and encompassing the winding means for the gyro rotor or flywheel;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section of the rear wheel and axle of the toy motorcycle; and

Figure 6 is a similar section to that of Figure 2 but showing a modification.

Throughout the views, the same reference numerals indicate the same or like parts and features.

Wheeled toys are, of course, well known and popular, especially toys which have three or four wheels so that the question of balance is not involved. However, where two wheeled toys are concerned, two factors immediately enter the picture, namely, the means of locomotion and means for balancing the toy during operation. Upon considering this problem, it has occurred to me that a two wheeled toy such as a motorcycle should have a gyro rotor or flywheel to balance the cycle and this gyro rotor should be so mounted that it also automatically serves to ice propel the toy and as a result serve a double purpose while thus simplifying the construction of the toy "as a whole. As a result of such consideration, I1have succeeded in producing a toy motorcycle as already outlined, which will now be described in detail in the following, due reference being had to thedrawing already alluded to.

Hence, in the practice of my invention, a toy motorcycle primarily includes a cycle frame 7 in the ,rear por tion of which is rotatably mounted a rear wheel 8 on a short shaft 9, having retaining bosses 10, 10 and being fixed on the shaft which is mounted to rotate in frame 7, as partly shown in Figure 5.. In the forward end ,llof the frame is provided a vertical bore 12 (Figure 3) through which extends upwardly the swiveling stud 13 of front fork 14 which has the two widely diverging arms 15, 15 provided at their lower ends with bearings for the reduced ends 16, 17 of front shaft 18. Upon this shaft is a hollow front wheel, generally indicated at 19, formed of two opposite halves 20, 21 brought together and cemented along the plane of mutual cleavage so that a symmetrical inner chamber 22 results for receiving an inner gyro-rotor or flywheel 23 fixed upon shaft 18. The hollow front wheel mounted upon said shaft for independent rotation relative to said shaft and said gyro rotor.

In the mentioned shaft near one end is a slot 24 for receiving one end of a cord 25 which may be wound thereon as indicated in Figure 4 between one fork arm 15 and wheel half or section 20 when the cycle is to be operated. To complete the structure, the upper end of fork stud 13 is provided with a handle bar assembly 26 having the two handle bars 27, 28 and simulated headlight 29. The cycle frame is also provided with a seat lit) for a driver figure 31 having its hands 32,. 33 disposed over but not on the handle bars, in order to avoid impeding free steering movements of the handle bar assembly.

When the motorcycle is to be operated, the end of cord or twine 25 is inserted in hole or slot 24 in front shaft 18, and then this shaft is rotated by the fingers gripping the other end of the shaft on the side of wheel section 21 so as to wind up the cord on the shaft. Thereafter, while the two ends of the fork arms 15, 15 are securely held by one hand, the loose end of the cord. is caught in the other hand and rapidly pulled off the front shaft or axle, thereby spinning the inner flywheel or gyro rotor 23 within front wheel 19. Placing the toy with its front and rear wheels on a tabie or flat surface, the weight of the cycle will causefriction between the front axle during rotation to tend to pull the front wheel with it in rotation so as to cause the motorcycle to roll along on the table or the like, the inner gyro rotor meanwhile maintaining the cycle upright by its independent rotation.

As may be seen in Figure 6, the front wheel 34 is hollow as before, but internal chamber 35 extends out to a greater diameter than in wheel 19, so that flywheel or gyro rotor 36 fixed on shaft 18 will be larger than wheel or rotor 23 and will therefore be capable of more power delivery to the cycle and a longer operation than with wheel 23.

Manifestly, variations may be resorted to, and parts and features may be modified or used without others within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim:

1. A gyro-controlled toy motorcycle having a frame, a rear cycle wheel rotatably mounted upon therear portion of said frame, a front fork rotatably mounted upon the front end of said frame, having a handle bar assembly secured to the upper end thereof, the lower end of said fork having a pair of diverging arms each having bearings adjacent the outer end thereof, a transversely extending shaft rotatably mounted between said arms and supported upon said bearings, a gyro-rotor rigidly secured upon said shaft, a front cycle wheel mounted upon said shaft for rotation relative to said gyro-rotor and said shaft, said front cycle wheel defining a hollow housing enclosing said gyro-rotor therewithin, said housing includinga pair of symmetrical dish shaped. elements joined ftogether along a central plane of cleavage completely mask said gyro-rotor, whereby said motorcycle may he propelled at a rate of speed different from the speed of 1,'in which the arms of the fork are spread widely apart and the shaft is as a result suhficiently long to present a length of shaft between each side of the front Wheel and the respectively adjacent fork arm and wherein said means for engaging one endof the cord comprises a hole at one side for receiving the end of a cord by which to rotate said shaft, so as to allow the cord to be wound up on one length of shaft and the other length of shaft to be manipulated by the fingers to wind up the cord.

References Cited in 'the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 514,995 Hyne Feb. 20, 1894 617,665 Waterhouse Jan. 10, 1899 1,363,718 Cayo mags, 1920 FOREIGN PATENTS 616,712 France of 1926 656,951 Great Britain 1951 

